Improvement in book-supports



' z Sheets-Sheet 2.

JQBoUDEMAN.

BOOK SUPPORTS. No. 190,117. Pa.tentedMa.y1',18 77.

YJEHNIE. BOUDZEMAN, KALAM A ZOO, MICHIGAN.

- Specificationfor ning part of Letters Patent No. 190,117, datedMay 1, 1877; application filed March 24, 1877.

same.

This invention relates to an attachment for tables designed to hold a book in position for reading at various heights and angles; and the invention consists in a book-rest or a desk adjustably secured to a rod, and adapted to slide beneath a tabletop when not in use, and to be brought from beneath the table-top and adjusted at various heights and angles, to suit the requirements of different users, and provided with means for securely holding a book in an open position.

In the drawing illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table with this improved attachment in place. Fig. 2 is a plan and partly-sectional view of the desk. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a table having my improvement attached and in position for use. Fig. 4 is a side view of. the table with the holder in position when not in use. Fig. 5 is an end view of the coupling or hinge used to attach the desk to its supporting-stem.

The same letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents a tabletop, which may beprovided with a stem, B, resting in a socket in the standard 0, and held in vertical adjustment in said socket by a collar, a, and setscrew b, or other contrivance -of suitable construction. Beneath this top a tube or sleeve, or a number of sleeves or collars, is arranged, which receives a rod, E, in such manner that it may be slid back and forth therein. A setscrew, 0, serves to lock the rod E in its sheath or support. Upon the end of rod E is a vertical socket, d, which receives a rod or stem, F, which latter is vertically adjustable in its socket d by means of a collar, 0, and a set-screw, f. To the upper end of the stem F is hinged a desk or book-holding device, G. The hinge H, employed to connect the desk and its stem, is of such nature as to permit of the adjustment of the desk atyarious angles, and in the illustration herein shown, but to which I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself, this hinge consists of a plate, g, attached to the back of the desk, and having a tongue, h, which enters spring-jaws e on the end of the stem, and is held therein by a clamping-screw,

i, so that by tightening the screw 2' the desk may be held at any angle desired within the compass of the movement of the hinge. The stem F being adjustable, the desk may be held at difi'erent heights, and the rod E sliding bebeath the table, the desk may be moved to different distances from the table.

' The desk G is preferably made with a basepiece, k, which should resemble the edge finishing of the table-top. To one end of this base is jointed a leaf, 1, which is jointed to a strip, 1, and this latter to another leaf, l, and this last leaf is adjust-ably secured to the base by a set-screw, m, playing in a slot in the base, and entering a screw-socket in said leaf 1'. By

this construction these leaves and the strip may be so adjusted upon the base as to form a double-inclined desk or holder for a book, as shown in Fig. l, the bottom edge of the book resting on the base. This adjustment is efiected by bringing the leaves I 1 toward each other to the desired extent and securing them in such position by tightening the screw m.

If desired, there may be employed, in connection with this desk, a removable device for resting upon an open book and holding it thus. Such a device is shown in Fig. 1 and it consists of a spring, n, adapted to be removably attached to the desk, and having swiveled to its free end a cross-bar, 0, designed to rest upon, and hold open, a book, so as to prevent its leaves frombeing turned over.

When the desk is not to be used, the device just described is removed, the leaves and middle strip of the desk are brought to a level with the edge of the base it, the desk is then adjusted parallel with the rod E, and its stem F brought to its lowest adjustment in its socket, and the whole pushed under the table-top, as a drawer would be, thus being out of the way, but always convenient and accessible when desired for use.

It will be perceived from the foregoing that the desk is capable of being rotated in the and by having the table to revolve upon its adjusting-rod the desk can be brought into various parts of a room without moving the whole table.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with the table, of a sliding horizontal rod, E, vertical adjustable stem F, and the hinged adjustable book-rest, desk, or holder, G, substantiallyas described. 2. A book-desk, Gr, having a number of leaves jointed one to another, and provided with a base-piece pivoted to one outer leaf, and adjustably connected with the other outer leaf by a pin and slot, saidleaves being capable of being fixed in a given position, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I JENNIE BOUDEMAN. Witnesses:

JAMES H. JOHNSON, C. K. TURNER. 

